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Booked With Bands Waaaaay Off Genre...

#65
I know, and update is overdue! And it's a doozy.

So, made my way to the venue, found parking and made my way with my bass only (silver lining was even tho no backline, I could go direct.. goddyapp) to the local pub across the street from the club where my drummer was having a beer and a sandwich. It was around 6:30 and load in was 8, so we had some time to kill.. My guitar player arrived a short while later to join us.

So our singer calls and says, "I don't think we're playing, both other bands didn't show.." :eyebrow: He arrived at the venue later and was unloading his gear and someone from the club said the one band didn't show because of "weather concerns" and the other band pulled out too. "So unless you can guarantee 25 people, you can't play." :eek:

So the third band added to the bill, mind you 48 Hours prior to showtime, sent us a FB message the following morning - they were called (despite being booked) and told the same 25+ story - at 6pm the night of the show. I FB'd the dude from the Doom band, and asked him what was up and he said they called him around 6 or so and said they couldn't get in touch with us or the other band and because of that they were cancelling and told them to not show up. :scowl:

Firstly, we were in dialog the ENTIRE week with the venue over load in time, time slot, backline, etc. So to say they "couldn't get in touch with us" is absolute crap. Weather concerns?? :confused: We had some snow earlier in the day and then the temps went to 44 and POOF no more snow. Not too mention, that other band NEVER told them that. Weaving tales left and right. I needed my bass as a shovel to dig my way out.

Despite my initial feelings, I was turned around in regards to playing the show - not too mention, made the 1+ hour drive to get there, with a sick kid at home - I wanted to play.

Both bands told us similar stories of what really happened - the club and booking agent (or lack thereof) blatently lied and showed incredible ignorance and unprofessionalism.

I get that they want bands that will draw - but to pull the plug when and how they did - was maddening.

Needless to say, we didn't play - I wanted to drive my car through their front window, but just mentally did the DieHard secenario, and drove home. :o

But hey, we got a rocking thread out of it, so all is not lost. :hmm: LOL
 
#66
DanBass said:
I know, and update is overdue! And it's a doozy.

So, made my way to the venue, found parking and made my way with my bass only (silver lining was even tho no backline, I could go direct.. goddyapp) to the local pub across the street from the club where my drummer was having a beer and a sandwich. It was around 6:30 and load in was 8, so we had some time to kill.. My guitar player arrived a short while later to join us.

So our singer calls and says, "I don't think we're playing, both other bands didn't show.." :eyebrow: He arrived at the venue later and was unloading his gear and someone from the club said the one band didn't show because of "weather concerns" and the other band pulled out too. "So unless you can guarantee 25 people, you can't play." :eek:

So the third band added to the bill, mind you 48 Hours prior to showtime, sent us a FB message the following morning - they were called (despite being booked) and told the same 25+ story - at 6pm the night of the show. I FB'd the dude from the Doom band, and asked him what was up and he said they called him around 6 or so and said they couldn't get in touch with us or the other band and because of that they were cancelling and told them to not show up. :scowl:

Firstly, we were in dialog the ENTIRE week with the venue over load in time, time slot, backline, etc. So to say they "couldn't get in touch with us" is absolute crap. Weather concerns?? :confused: We had some snow earlier in the day and then the temps went to 44 and POOF no more snow. Not too mention, that other band NEVER told them that. Weaving tales left and right. I needed my bass as a shovel to dig my way out.

Despite my initial feelings, I was turned around in regards to playing the show - not too mention, made the 1+ hour drive to get there, with a sick kid at home - I wanted to play.

Both bands told us similar stories of what really happened - the club and booking agent (or lack thereof) blatently lied and showed incredible ignorance and unprofessionalism.

I get that they want bands that will draw - but to pull the plug when and how they did - was maddening.

Needless to say, we didn't play - I wanted to drive my car through their front window, but just mentally did the DieHard secenario, and drove home. :o

But hey, we got a rocking thread out of it, so all is not lost. :hmm: LOL
Click to expand...

Dude, that sucks. Mandatory amount of people? Sounds borderline pay to play. Between your original problem and now this new info, I would avoid this venue. Sounds like amateur hour over there.

Good luck dude!
 
#68
zachoff said:
Another way to avoid this situation is get a couple other bands on board that you know are good and can play that night and approach the booking people with a lineup instead of letting them put it together. It's less work for them and it guarantees you'll be playing with bands you know and like. This has worked well for me in the past.
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except bands are as big of a pain in the @$$ as venues
 
#69
I think I've told this story here before, but my originals band was once booked with a couple of bands made up of high school kids.

I was 53 at the time. Looking around the venue I realized I was older than the parents that brought the kids in the other bands.

It was this, coupled with an extremely mediocre drummer, that drove me out of that band and back into the much better paying world of cover bands. Don't regret it for a second.
 
#75
zachoff said:
Another way to avoid this situation is get a couple other bands on board that you know are good and can play that night and approach the booking people with a lineup instead of letting them put it together. It's less work for them and it guarantees you'll be playing with bands you know and like. This has worked well for me in the past.
Click to expand...

THIS, only book them in the pub across the street instead.
 

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